West Indian opener Chris Gayle was adjudged lbw against a Mitchell Starc delivery that tailed into the left-hander after pitching. However, replays revealed that the previous delivery was a huge no-ball as the bowler had overstepped, but the umpires failed to pick.

In case you didn’t know...

West Indies is currently playing Australia at Trent Bridge in Match 10 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Australia posted 288 after batting first. West Indies began their chase briskly when all the drama unfolded in the fifth over.

In a 17-ball stay for Chris Gayle, it involved every possible drama with him being given out twice, but over-ruled as many times, before he ran out of luck on the third occasion. In a span of two overs, Gayle twice opted to review the umpire’s decision and was successful in overturning the decision each time. On the first call, he was caught-behind but on replays, it appeared that the ball had kissed the stumps. And on the second call, he was given lbw, while it was clearly missing the leg-stump.

The heart of the matter…

In a span of two overs, Gayle referred to the third umpire on three occasions before he got unlucky on the third attempt. He was found in front of the wicket and had to make a long walk back to the pavilion. However, replays confirmed that the delivery previous to the wicket-ball was a no-ball by a huge margin.

The bowler had over-stepped and the umpire failed to call it. It was unlucky for Gayle because the wicket-delivery would have been a free-hit and he could have continued his stay for a longer time.

This is not for the first time that such umpiring howlers have procured the unnecessary limelight. With ICC being the apex body of cricket, it is absolute disgrace that a global event, despite being played under such a greater influence of technology, is not able to rectify minimal human errors, which can cost any side a game.

What’s next?

It is a call for the ICC to take to minimize scenarios where a human error can have a major impact on the game. Even in the past, it has been advocated that the front-foot no-ball should always be checked by the third umpire, irrespective of whether a wicket falls or not.

Former South African batsman AB de Villiers has responded to reports that he had approached the South African team management to play the ODI World Cup. AB posted a message on twitter saying that everyone should focus on supporting the South African team at the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

In case you didnít know...

AB de Villers had retired from international cricket in May last year citing tiredness as the reason. However, as per the reports, he made an offer just 24 hours before South Africa's selectors were to name the final 15-man squad for the World Cup. It is believed that he approached captain Faf du Plessis, head coach Ottis Gibson and the Convenor of Selectors Linda Zondi, with the request to play the World Cup but the request was "not even considered".

The heart of the matter

The steam management refused ABís request as he had not played any South African domestic cricket or international cricket in the intervening months. The move to bring him back would have also sent a wrong signal to young players like Rassie van der Dussen, who had been impressive and made three fifties in his first four ODI innings and could have even demoralised the other players in contention for the World Cup squad.
The news of AB requesting to play the World Cup has created a stutter worldwide with the fans arguing if the South African team management had made the right decision. This made AB post a message for the fans to focus on backing the team at the World Cup. He posted the following message on Twitter:

The South African team is in total disarray at the World Cup having lost all of their three matches to England, Bangladesh, and India. A major cause of their failures has been the disappointing performances from their star batsmen. Captain du Plessis has failed to fire while the likes of David Miller, J.P Duminy have gotten starts but have failed to carry on and play a big innings.

Whatís next?

With three defeats in their kitty, South Africa will now need to win all six of its remaining group fixtures in order to put up their contention to qualify for the World Cup semi-finals. They will next take on the West Indies in Southampton on Monday.

Adam Zampa has been accused of ball-tampering by cricket fans who raised questions about the Australia spin bowler's actions during Sunday's 36-run defeat to India in the Cricket World Cup.

Zampa was seen to remove an item from his pocket and pass it between his hands while holding the ball during the match at The Oval.

The incident occurred a little over a year after then Australia captain Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft colluded to alter the condition of a ball in a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town.

Bancroft was subsequently banned from cricket for ninth months, while Smith and Warner - who are now back in the Australia team - both received 12-month bans.

Adam Zampa was caught rubbing the ball with a hand warmer during India vs Australia clash.What's the story?

Adam Zampa created havoc in the cricketing world when he was seen rubbing the ball with an unknown substance during the India-Australia clash in World Cup 2019. Social media became went into a frenzy and named it as a Sandpaper Gate 2.0 but Australian skipper Aaron Finch then clarified the issue. He stated in the post-match interview that Zampa carries the hand warmers in his pockets in every game.

The background

The 5-time champions received a huge boost when Steve Smith and David Warner made their comeback after serving a 1-year ban because of the ball-tampering scandal. The 2 top cricketing nations, India and Australia, met in a highly anticipated contest yesterday in match number 14 of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

After opting to bat first, India got off to a dream start as both the openers scored half-centuries by outplaying the Australian bowlers. India dominated the Australian side in all the aspects as they won the game by 36 runs. However, the match even gave birth to a controversy thanks to Adam Zampa’s hand warmers.

The heart of the matter

Adam Zampa made the cricket universe curious during the 24th over as he placed his hands in his pocket and took out an unknown substance. Twitterati being shocked termed it as the Sandpaper Gate 2.0 as Zampa was caught rubbing the ball with it on camera.

However, Aaron Finch revealed that the leggie was not trying to tamper the ball, but he carries hand warmers in his pocket in every match and he had them in his palm while he was holding the ball. It is quite cold in England at the moment hence the hand warmers might be a relief for every fielder on the ground.

World Cup 2019: ICC asks MS Dhoni to remove army insignia from his gloves

What’s the story?

MS Dhoni has been asked to remove the army insignia from his wicketkeeping gloves by the International Cricket Council (ICC), after the India v/s South Africa match in the ICC 2019 Cricket World Cup.

In case you didn’t know…

MS Dhoni was spotted carrying an insignia of the Indian Paramilitary forces on his wicket-keeping gloves. He has been awarded an honorary rank in the Indian Army.The insignia seen on Dhoni's gloves is a regimental dagger of the Indian Paramilitary ForcesThe heart of the matter

Following the India v/s South Africa match where MS was seen wearing these specially embroidered gloves, the ICC in an official statement said that it had asked the BCCI to direct MS Dhoni to remove the insignia from his glove.

Claire Furlong, ICC General Manager, Strategic Communications said, “We have requested the BCCI to get it removed.”

MS Dhoni currently holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Division of the terrestrial army.

But, this time around, without any intimation from anyone, the ICC has taken the step and asked the BCCI to do the needful.

What’s next?

With India taking on the in-form Australian side on the 9th of June, it will be interesting to see if the veteran keeper still dons the same pair of gloves or not.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni will continue wearing the dagger insignia on his wicket-keeping gloves as it is not a military symbol, Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai asserted Friday, saying that the BCCI has sought the ICC’s permission for it. During India’s opening World Cup game against South Africa in Southampton, Dhoni’s wicketkeeping gloves had a dagger logo embossed, which looked more like an Army insignia. Pakistan minister takes jibe at MS Dhoni on Army Insignia gloves controversy MS Dhoni’s decision to sport an Army’s Insignia badge on his wicketkeeping gloves during India’s opening World Cup encounter against South Africa has sparked a massive controversy. Dhoni’s wicket-keeping gloves flaunting regimental dagger insignia of the Indian Para Special Forces has caught nationwide attention. The latest to join in the debate and take a dig at Dhoni was current Pakistan Federal minister for science and technology Fawad Hussain Chaudhry.

“Dhoni is in England to play cricket not for Mahabharata (sic), what an idiotic debate in Indian media, a section of the Indian media is so obsessed with war they should be sent to Syria, Afghanistan or Rwanda as mercenaries…. #Idiots,” tweeted Pakistan Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry.

MS Dhoni May Get Into Trouble as Sakshi Breaches Team India’s ICC World Cup 2019 Rule For WAGS by Being Present at Rose Bowl

ICC World Cup 2019: The WAGs of the Indian cricketers can’t meet the Indian World Cuppers before June 26, but, it also depends on how well the team is performing.

MS Dhoni, Indian Cricket Team, BCCI, WAGS, Sakshi Dhoni, Ziva Dhoni, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, ICC World Cup 2019, Ind vs Aus, Ind vs SA, Cricket NewsICC World Cup 2019: Move over MS Dhoni’s Insignia Row, things could get worse for the former India skipper. BCCI had laid down a diktat for the WAGS ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, that wives and girlfriends can join the cricketers only 20 days after the tournament has begun and can be with the cricketers for 15 days only. Dhoni’s wife Sakshi and Ziva were present at the Rose Bowl during India’s World Cup 2019 opener against South Africa. The mother-daughter duo was spotted rooting for the Men in Blue from the stands. Looks like the rule has been breached and now it would be interesting to see BCCI’s stance in this issue.

World Cup 2019: Dale Steyn ruled out of tournament, South Africa name Beuran Hendricks as replacement

South Africa's most experienced bowler Dale Steyn has been ruled out of the World Cup. Dale Steyn suffered this injury while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Left-arm seamer Beuran Hendricks has been named as his replacement.
Steyn had been nursing a shoulder injury for quite a while. In 2016, he had an operation on the same shoulder. But, Steyn did make a comeback against Zimbabwe last year in the month of October. Later on, he was picked up as a replacement to by Royal Challengers Bangalore after Australian pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile. Steyn couldn't last long as he was ruled out of the IPL after playing just 2 games due to shoulder inflammation.

While it was announced that Dale Steyn wouldn't start the tournament, there were still expectations that he could come back for the game against India or West Indies. Steyn was even seen bowling in the middle after South Africa lost their second match against Bangladesh.

A statement from Cricket South Africa on Tuesday said that Steyn has "suffered a second shoulder injury which has not responded to treatment and has ruled him out of bowling for the foreseeable future".

Subsequently, left-arm pacer Beuran Hendricks was named as Steyn's replacement. Hendricks, an inexperienced bowler at the international level, has just played two ODIs in his career.
This injury to Dale Steyn has come as a major setback for South Africa. Already, prior to the tournament, Anrich Nortje was ruled out and Chris Morris was named as his replacement. Lungi Ngidi also suffered a hamstring injury during South Africa's second game against Bangladesh. Ngidi was ruled out for a period of one week to 10 days. These injury issues have come at a time when South Africa have had a bad start to the tournament with two consecutive losses against England and Bangladesh.